PRESS STATEMENT ON DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO

BY PRESIDENT OF SECURITY COUNCIL

Following is today’s press statement on the Democratic Republic of the Congo by the President of the Security Council, Mikhail Wehbe (Syria):

The Council members discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.  Members of the Council heard a briefing from Jean-Marie Guéhenno, Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.

Members of the Council condemned recent attacks against the United Nations Organization Mission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (MONUC) by the Rassemblement Congolais pour la Démocratie (RCD-Goma).  In particular, they condemned the attempts by RCD-Goma to undermine the representatives of the United Nations and their constructive role.

Members of the Council demand that RCD-Goma immediately cease its harassment of United Nations officials and to cooperate fully with the investigation of recent events in Kisangani.

Furthermore, an experts meeting will be held this afternoon to prepare a presidential statement on these developments, and it is expected that the statement will be adopted by the Council tomorrow.

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